The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly 4% being female. The majority are single; live in urban areas; and approximately 26 % suffer from a severe mental illness, with 34% having a chronic substance abuse problem. Roughly 40% of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 10.4% and 3.4% of the U.S. veteran population, respectively. America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the military’s anti-drug efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone. (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans)
Resources:
- www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html
- www.va.gov/homeless/about_the_initiative .asp
- National Coalition for the Homeless http://www.nationalhomeless.org/
- United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
http://www.usich.gov/funding_programs/calendar/national_homelessness_awareness_month_policy_briefing/836
- National Center on Family Homelessness
http://www.familyhomelessness.org/whatsnew.php?p=ss
- Homeless Shelter Directory
http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/
- Virginia Homeless Directory Resources
http://www.homeless.us/Virginia-Homeless.html
- VA Homeless Veterans Services
http://www.va.gov/homeless/for_homeless_veterans.asp
- National Resource Directory links to various homeless services
https://www.nrd.gov/homeless_assistance
- National Resource Directory links to housing services (including home loan information and accessible housing search options
https://www.nrd.gov/housing
- Department of Housing and Urban Development Homeless and Housing (including foreclosure assistance) Resources
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/states/virginia
- Department of Housing and Urban Development affordable apartment search engine
http://www.hud.gov/apps/section8/index.cfm
- HopeNow homeowner counseling, foreclosure resources (including military specific programs)
http://www.hopenow.com
- VA Home Loans
http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/